After a big victory: Gut-Behrami only 95 points behind Shiffrin: “Shiffrin feels Lara’s hot breath on his neck”

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Marc Girardelli won the overall World Cup five times between 1984 and 1993. Lara Gut-Behrami will no longer reach such a high number. At 32 years old, the Ticino native is in the latter part of her career. But is it enough to get the second big crystal ball this winter? In a season without the World Cup and the Olympic Games, this would be the undisputed skiing award. “I’ve never been a prophet – otherwise I would have made a lot more money,” Girardelli says, laughing. The 60-year-old from Vorarlberg, who drove to Luxembourg, does not dare to make predictions. “But I’m sure Mikaela can feel Lara’s hot breath on her neck.”

After Gut-Behrami’s stunning victory at Kronplatz (It), Shiffrin’s lead is now only 95 points. There are still 15 races on the schedule: five Super-G, four downhills and three each of giant slaloms and slaloms. “Shiffrin is the best ski racer of all time. After Petra Vlhova’s retirement, she probably thought she would enjoy a free ride in the overall World Cup. But now she’s dealing with a Swiss woman. This match is a windfall for skiing,” said Girardelli.

Shiffrin? “Nothing worse”

Until a few weeks ago, Girardelli was not the only one who would hardly have believed in a duel between Shiffrin and Gut-Behrami for the overall World Cup. Few people expected that. But then came the three chaos races in Cortina (It). Shiffrin injured his knee and is currently recovering in Innsbruck (Austria). American Alpine boss Patrick Riml on SRF: “Thank God it’s nothing serious – nothing is broken or torn. It could be ten, fourteen or twenty days before Mikaela returns to the World Cup.”

And Gut Behrami? She came second, fifth and first in Cortina – and now she wins at Kronplatz. “I’m happy,” she says after her hussar ride. At the same time, Gut-Behrami is also unlucky because the speed races in Garmisch (De) did not take place – it is too hot. She could have overtaken Shiffrin in the general classification at the foot of the Zugspitze.

But Gut-Behrami doesn’t think about that. “You often make the mistake of wanting to continue driving immediately when things are going well. But I’m tired. Now I have a week to recover.” She will do it at home in Udine (It) with her husband Valon Behrami (38).

“What Lara shows is phenomenal”

Back to Girardelli. He praises Gut-Behrami highly. “What she shows is phenomenal.” At the same time, he points out: “Shiffrin is at least fifth in the slalom, even with one and a half legs. And she has already won in all disciplines, you can never write her off.” The question remains: does he think Gut-Behrami will soon reach his milestone of 46 World Cup victories? Four are missing. “I hope so! For me, this number is not that important,” he says modestly.

By the way: Camille Rast (24) is in 8th place on the Kronplatz – the Valais has not been in such a good position in more than two years. “I am positively surprised, because the last training sessions were not that good,” said the Valais.

Source : Blick